Introduction to the Latest NYC Street Gang Bust
Mayor Eric Adams and top NYPD brass stood shoulder to shoulder with President Trump’s controversial border czar Tom Homan on Tuesday to announce the arrest of alleged Tren De Aragua gang members who may or may not face due process before being deported.
Mayor Eric Adams and top NYPD brass stood shoulder to shoulder with President Trump’s controversial border czar Tom Homan on Tuesday to announce the arrest of alleged Tren De Aragua gang members who may or may not face due process before being deported.
The Arrests and Charges
According to Homan, 27 people with ties to the infamous criminal organization have been charged for the first time in a federal RICO case. Criminal charges against them include racketeering, sex trafficking, narcotics, robbery, carjacking, and firearms-related offenses.
“President Trump’s been clear, he made a promise to Americans to make the country safe again. And today you see one step, one small step, and many more steps to come here, to make this country safe and help Mayor Adams and the police commissioner,” Homan said during the April 22 press conference in Soho.
The Investigation and Seizure of Firearms
The officials made the announcement standing above a table filled with guns, which they say were confiscated from the gang. Mayor Adams charged that the January 2024 assault on police officers in Times Square kicked off the months-long investigation that he says led to these arrests.
“I said: This can’t happen in our city, and we need to find everyone that’s responsible for it, because if you attack the symbol of public safety, man or woman who’s wearing that police uniform, you’re attacking the civility of our country. And I said: find them and send a strong message,” Adams railed.
Partnership with the Trump Administration
Hizzoner, who has been widely criticized for vocalizing his support for the Trump administration, once again doubled down on his partnership with the Republican president and Homan himself.
“I know the side that I am on,” Adams said.
The indictment charges six alleged members of TDA. The second superseding indictment (dubbed the “Anti-Tren Indictment”) charges 19 alleged members of “Anti-Tren,” a splinter faction composed of former TDA members, along with two additional associates of Anti-Tren. Of the 27 defendants, 21 are in federal custody, including 16 who were already in federal criminal, immigration, or state custody and five who were arrested on both April 21 and 22 during operations in and outside of.
Due Process Concerns
‘They don’t bypass the courts’
Following the announcement, Homan had a back-and-forth argument with reporters who challenged him over the legality of recent deportations and whether or not those arrested in this case will face due process before being shipped out of the country. The latest bust comes as the Trump administration faces numerous legal challenges to its deportation of reputed gang members to a mega-prison in El Salvador without following due process of law.
But Homan insisted to reporters that proper due process is being followed.
“They don’t bypass the courts,” Homan scoffed. “It’s case by case. There are thousands of cases a week.”
Numerous reports indicate that a number of individuals deported to El Salvador have not been convicted or even charged with a crime. This includes Kilmar Abrego Garcia, whom the Trump administration admitted in court to sending to El Salvador in error — but has yet to comply with a unanimous Supreme Court decision ordering that the administration “facilitate” his release.
Collaboration with ICE
Homan also commented on his relationship with embattled Mayor Eric Adams, stating that he wants to Adams collaborate even further with ICE but says he does not lay the blame with Adams.
“I would like to see more but he is in a tough position with the city council fighting him all the way,” Homan said. “Anybody from the City Council here today? Speak up? Don’t you find that strange no member of the City Council is here today to look at what collaboration means.”
Conclusion
The latest NYC street gang bust has brought attention to the ongoing collaboration between Mayor Eric Adams and President Trump’s border czar Tom Homan. While the arrests and charges are a significant step in combating gang violence, concerns about due process and the legality of deportations remain. As the situation continues to unfold, it is essential to monitor the actions of the Trump administration and the response of the city council.
FAQs
Q: How many people were arrested in the latest NYC street gang bust?
A: 27 people with ties to the Tren De Aragua gang were charged in a federal RICO case.
Q: What are the charges against the alleged gang members?
A: The charges include racketeering, sex trafficking, narcotics, robbery, carjacking, and firearms-related offenses.
Q: Will the arrested individuals face due process before being deported?
A: According to Homan, proper due process is being followed, but concerns about the legality of deportations remain.
Q: What is the nature of the partnership between Mayor Eric Adams and President Trump’s border czar Tom Homan?
A: The partnership aims to combat gang violence and increase collaboration between the city and federal authorities, but has been widely criticized.
